Russia Should Abstain From New Arms Race With NATO — Pundit
Interfax - 4.17.12 - JRL 2012-72
Moscow, 17 April: Strengthening cooperation with NATO will allow to save Russian economy from a new arms race, vice-president of the Russian military commanders club Col-Gen Leontiy Shevtsov has said.
file photo"(Our) relations with NATO are aimed at not getting involved in another arms race. If we get involved, we will not solve any tasks - we will neither improve the life of our people nor resolve social problems, carry out modernization and so forth," Shevtsov said on Tuesday (17 April) at a role-playing game called "International Model of Russia-NATO Council" held at the Moscow State Linguistic University and attended by representatives of the alliance.
The high-ranking pundit drew attention to the fact that "according to our documents, including the military doctrine, there is not a single word saying that NATO is our enemy, adversary".
"Nor is it stated anywhere that this (NATO) is our potential adversary," the expert said.
He went on to add that NATO's presence at the Russian borders should be regarded as a fait accompli.
"Whether we want it or not, NATO has existed for 63 years, whether we like it or not. I definitely don't like it and I would not like it to exist for so long. But let's be pragmatic: NATO exists, it has survived and is close to us," said Shevtsov, who is also aide to the head of the State Duma defence committee.
Keywords: Russia, NATO - Russian News - Russia
Moscow, 17 April: Strengthening cooperation with NATO will allow to save Russian economy from a new arms race, vice-president of the Russian military commanders club Col-Gen Leontiy Shevtsov has said.
file photo"(Our) relations with NATO are aimed at not getting involved in another arms race. If we get involved, we will not solve any tasks - we will neither improve the life of our people nor resolve social problems, carry out modernization and so forth," Shevtsov said on Tuesday (17 April) at a role-playing game called "International Model of Russia-NATO Council" held at the Moscow State Linguistic University and attended by representatives of the alliance.
The high-ranking pundit drew attention to the fact that "according to our documents, including the military doctrine, there is not a single word saying that NATO is our enemy, adversary".
"Nor is it stated anywhere that this (NATO) is our potential adversary," the expert said.
He went on to add that NATO's presence at the Russian borders should be regarded as a fait accompli.
"Whether we want it or not, NATO has existed for 63 years, whether we like it or not. I definitely don't like it and I would not like it to exist for so long. But let's be pragmatic: NATO exists, it has survived and is close to us," said Shevtsov, who is also aide to the head of the State Duma defence committee.